This dissertation addresses a significant gap in existing research by exploring lived experiences of cisgender female adolescents (Grades 7-12) diagnosed with emotional disturbance (ED) in the U.S. Current statistics indicate that 28% of students in special education with an ED diagnosis are girls; yet, their perspectives remain largely absent…

Feelings of distress over the unknowns of the future refers to an intolerance of uncertainty (IU). IU is significantly linked to internalizing disorders like anxiety. College students are in a unique position of uncertainty and anxiety as they emerge into adulthood. Additionally, external sources of uncertainty, like the economy, may contribute to…

Students receiving special education services for emotional disturbance (ED) are one of the most challenging groups of students to work with in the school setting. Special education policies have shifted to place students in their least restrictive environment, which has increased the percentage of students with ED in the general education…

This study examines the disproportionality in special education, regarding African American students being overrepresented, specifically under the disability category of Emotional Disturbance (ED) within the state of Pennsylvania. Demographic information was collected with the use of secondary data provided by the Pennsylvania Department of…

Outcomes of students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) have failed to meet the standards of educators and educational researchers. For several decades, such students have had worse academic and postsecondary outcomes than any other student population. This has led to emphasis on implementation of evidence-based practices to combat the…

Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders (EBD) are placed outside of their public school more frequently than other students with disabilities, yet there are gaps in the literature on reintegration processes and the possible negative impact when collaboration between schools is minimal. Public schools rely on private placements in…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the protocol of how high school counselors manage Black male students diagnosed as being emotionally disturbed. This study examined the problem of the overdiagnosis of ethnic minority youths, mainly Black youths. The research used a case study research design to answer three research questions…

The purpose of this study was to determine whether teachers working with students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) are familiar with the resources shown to be most effective at improving student outcomes in this population and to what extent they are utilizing evidence-based practices in their classrooms. It also sought to gather…

Most recent data confirms that the transition and learning "gap between youth and young adults (ages 14-24) with and without disabilities remains significant despite decades of federal and state legislation intended to improve education and employment opportunities" (Cheng & Shaewitz, 2020, p. 28). Researchers have highlighted that…

The importance of student-teacher relationships is well established. However, research suggests that students in special education tend to experience lower quality student-teacher relationships than their peers in general education. Of particular importance is the developing research indicating that students with emotional and behavioral disorders…

Although few educators choose to work with students with behavioral difficulties, some decide to work with students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). Special education teachers who work with students with EBD have a high turnover rate because those students are one of the most challenging populations to teach. Separate day programs…

The problem addressed in this qualitative case study was that many early childhood educators are unprepared for or lack the knowledge and skills to utilize trauma informed practices in their classrooms to help address early childhood trauma which leads to the use of exclusionary disciplinary measures. The purpose was to better understand teachers'…

Childhood trauma is a significant public health issue in the United States. The experiencing of traumatic events can result in deficiencies in developmental, social, emotional, and behavioral self-regulation, impairing academic progress. The functional core aspects or primary domains of impairment (academics, relationships, self-regulation, and…

Students with Emotional Impairment (EI) often have among the worst outcomes of any category of students receiving services for learning disabilities. They earn fewer credits, are less likely to graduate, are more likely to drop out, and are less likely to pursue education beyond high school than almost any other of the categories identified under…

African American Students with disabilities have been disproportionately represented in special education under the labels Intellectually Disabled (ID) and Emotionally Disturbed (ED) (Garwood & Carrero, 2022; Skrtic et al., 2021; Green et al., 2021; Artiles, 2019). As a result of these labels, African American students with disabilities have…